Julius Thomas optimistic about Jacksonville's offense

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas, who scored his first touchdown with the team in Sunday's 31-20 loss to the Houston Texans, said there is plenty of reason for optimism despite a 1-5 start.

Thomas said the Jacksonville offense, led by quarterback Blake Bortles, has demonstrated it can be effective under offensive coordinator Greg Olsen.

“You see that we can move the ball,” Thomas said, per Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union. “We can make plays. I don’t know if I’ve seen a lot of teams that are able to complete as many passes as we do down the field.”

The Jaguars are 12th in the NFL in passing yards, with second-year wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns both continuing to make strides. Robinson has 28 receptions for 488 yards and five touchdowns, while Hurns has caught 29 passes for 460 yards and four touchdowns.

“They deserve a lot of credit for playing above their years,” Thomas said of Robinson and Hurns. “We’re asking a lot of those guys, young quarterback and young receivers. … I’ve been extremely impressed with those young guys being reliable. That’s what it means to be a veteran, being in the right place at the right time.”